Cold Stone Creamery opens store in Egypt

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Valley-based ice cream chain Cold Stone Creamery knows a thing or two about selling a frozen treat in the desert.

That’s only one of the reasons why Cold Stone has opened its first Egyptian location.

“It has been a market that is significantly hot for American brands,” said Eddy Jimenez, Coldstone’s vice president of international development and logistics. “There’s a really big appreciation for high-end brands.”

The Middle East isn’t a new market for Cold Stone. The Scottsdale company has also opened stores in Oman, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. The company is also contemplating expansion to Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Lebanon.

The Egyptian location is the first store Cold Stone has in Africa. Now it’s looking to place stores in Nigeria and South Africa.

With the move, Cold Stone gets a chance to expand flavor selection.

“In Dubai, we’ve looked at a date flavor [for ice cream], and other popular fruits that locals are accustomed to eating,” said Jimenez.

Cold Stone is set to open its second location in Egypt before the end of the year.